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Children’s National Health System has been named a recipient of a Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) award to improve health care delivery for children with complex medical needs. The grant, aimed at advancing care coordination models, was awarded to the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and 10 pediatric hospital partners. Children’s National will also serve as CHA’s primary administrative partner for the grant.

“We appreciate the strong commitment of CMMI to improving care for all kids,” commented Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO of Children’s National and Chair of the Children’s Hospital Association’s Public Policy Committee, “as well as its recognition of the critical role that specialized children’s hospitals play in our nation’s health care system. “

CHA and its hospital partners, including Children’s National, will receive a $23 million Health Care Innovation Award to test “Coordinating All Resources Effectively (CARE)”. The effort aims to inform sustainable change in health care delivery through new payment models supporting improved care and reduced costs for children with medical complexity. Advances in pediatric care have resulted in more children living and growing up with significant health conditions (including cardiac defects and genetic and neurologic disorders) and increasing medical fragility. Today, almost 3 million of the nation’s 76 million children have medical complexities, and their care generates the highest expenses in the Medicaid program.

Potentially funded projects include programs to promote better care for children with medically complex diseases which will focus on reducing unnecessary use of emergency departments, promote prevention and health through a dedicated medical home, while improving care and coordination for this vulnerable population.

Further details about the grant and the CARE program are expected later this summer.